"To be able to collaborate with Axel on something that I truly love" - Jack Draper teams up with Axel Arigato to design shoes set to be released around Roland Garros

Jack Draper has had a lot of time to spend on the sidelines thanks to an untimely arm injury halting his progress on the court. Away from it, along with recovering, he has worked closely with Swedish luxury fashion brand Axel Arigato to create his very own shoes.

In total, three drops are set to arrive. These will be synchronising with the other three Grand Slam tournaments set to be played out this year. He spent a lot of time putting the work in with Axel’s creative director, Jens Werner, to perfect his dream shoe, and this dream has now become a reality.

The day before the release, the Axel Arigato Instagram account posted a teaser video with a hooded Draper on court with a tennis racket and ball, walking around with the shoes teased in a black and white video. The full announcement was posted on their Instagram accounts the next day. "'I was waiting for the right time.' ⁠⁠Introducing Axel Arigato by Jack Draper - a first-for-both design-led sneaker collaboration.⁠⁠ Shaped by three global cities, Draper reimagines an Axel Arigato classic.⁠⁠ Coming this Spring."

When turning pro, Draper instantly splurged the money earned on three pairs of trainers from the brand. He was an avid fan of them. "When I was 17, I first was drawn to the Axels because they were just so clean," he told Highsnobiety. "They were a mix between very clean and very aesthetic - but also they had a bit of a pattern, a bit of style and a bit of an edge to them, which I loved. That still rings true to me now."

Fashion has always been on Draper's mind. His unorthodox partnership with Vuori stems away from the traditional Nike and Adidas brands most tennis players go for. Now, he feels like it is the right time to take his first steps into this world, coinciding with tennis also entering that realm in recent times.

"I think it's really great to collab with Axel Arigato because I'm at a point where I feel like fashion and style has really come into tennis and it's something that I've been more drawn to over the last few years," he stated. "To be able to collaborate with Axel on something that I truly love, which is the shoe, makes me feel incredible about my tennis, but also what I can do in terms of off-court style as well."

The 24-year-old has linked the release of his shoe to the second Grand Slam of the year, the French Open. On court he will be hoping for a decent result on the clay courts in Paris, looking to bounce back after a decent clay swing last year, highlighted by him reaching the final of the Madrid Open.

He hinted at a story behind them linked to the major tournaments. "I think it's just going to be really amazing timing. The summer is coming and to be able to create a shoe which linked into the different Grand Slams with a real story behind them - and a bit of a mystery into what's coming next - creates something very special."

It is no secret that Draper has been into his fashion. "My relationship with my personal style is very free. I'd like to feel that I'm quite versatile with my style, especially in sport - I always wear sportswear, but I've become more involved in the fashion industry with my ambassadorship for Burberry."

He is a full believer that tennis is the perfect sport for this, pinpointing the variety of outfits worn on court. "I think tennis is a great sport for it because everyone's unique, everyone's different, and everyone's got a different style of playing - so it really relates to personal style and the ability to express yourself and who you want to be."

He was especially passionate about bringing something that means so much to him into the sport he competes in, able to show it off on the biggest stages around the world. "I really do believe that Axel Arigato's are the best shoes for casual wear, I see them all over the place when I'm travelling around the world," he commented. "They’ve got a huge community of people that love their shoes, so it’s nice to showcase a brand that I love and a brand that I'm really passionate about in the world of tennis."

The last couple of years, Draper has really come out of his shell, shooting up the rankings and making a name for himself, including his run to the semi-finals at the 2024 US Open and the Indian Wells title triumph. He has amassed a large number of fans, who will see the shoes that he and Axel Arigato have created. This could lead to them possibly being inspired to buy and wear them.

Draper hopes to be a trailblazer of sorts to help the brand grow. "I hope more than anything that people who see me wear their shoes are inspired to go out and buy a pair and try them," he said. "Not only the collection that I've worked on, but also Axel Arigato as a brand is something that people have to know about. They make a massive difference to personal style, and they pretty much go with anything. I haven't heard one person who wears them saying that they don't absolutely love the brand and love the way the shoes are put together and what they're about."

The world number 25 will be looking to claim back his British number one status. He has opted to skip the Monte-Carlo Masters after competing at the Sunshine swing. He would go on to lose a large number of points with him departing at the quarterfinal stage of Indian Wells against Daniil Medvedev, but a notable win against Novak Djokovic caught the eye and showcased his gleaming quality on court.

A huge opportunity will rise in the second half of the season to gain points while others around him possibly falter. He reached a career high ranking of fourth in the world last year, and will be dearly hoping to get back to those high levels once more.